Which one among the following countries does NOT have common boundary with South Africa?

Correct — A, Zambia. South Africa has six land neighbours and Zambia is not among them. Going round the border: Namibia in the north-west along about 967 kilometres, Botswana across the north along 1,840 kilometres, Zimbabwe on a short northern stretch of 225 kilometres, Mozambique on the north-east along 491 kilometres, Eswatini along 430 kilometres, and Lesotho along 909 kilometres — Lesotho being entirely enclosed by South African territory. The total is about 4,862 kilometres. Zambia's nearest approach is the Kazungula area on the Zambezi, where Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia come within a few hundred metres of one another; even there Zimbabwe and Botswana lie between Zambia and South Africa.

• (b)Zimbabwe — It does border South Africa, along the Limpopo for about 225 kilometres — the shortest of the six, which is why it is the option most likely to be doubted.
• (c)Botswana — It shares the longest of South Africa's land borders, about 1,840 kilometres running along the north.
• (d)Namibia — It borders South Africa in the north-west along about 967 kilometres, much of it following the Orange River.

Southern Africa is worth learning as a ring around one country. South Africa touches Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Eswatini on its outer edge and completely encloses Lesotho, which is one of only three fully enclaved countries in the world, along with San Marino and Vatican City. Zambia sits one country further north, separated by the Zambezi and by the width of Zimbabwe and Botswana.

Two things make this item easy once fixed. Lesotho is an enclave, so it can never be the odd one out in a bordering question. And Zambia's landmark is the Zambezi and the Victoria Falls on the Zambia-Zimbabwe line, which is itself a reminder that Zimbabwe lies between Zambia and the south. Note that the store tags this question Defence and Security, which is the dataset's habit of mislabelling; it is a world geography item.

• South Africa borders six countries: Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Eswatini and Lesotho.
• Lesotho is entirely surrounded by South Africa, one of only three fully enclaved states in the world.
• The Botswana border is the longest at about 1,840 km; the Zimbabwe border is the shortest at about 225 km.
• South Africa's total land border runs to about 4,862 km.
• Zambia lies north of Zimbabwe, separated from South Africa by both Zimbabwe and Botswana.

• Assuming Zimbabwe is too small or too far to touch South Africa; its border is short but real.
• Overlooking Lesotho because an enclave is easy to forget when listing neighbours.
• Confusing Zambia with Zimbabwe, whose names and river frontage invite the swap.

Asked as an odd-one-out on land borders, using four southern African states of which three genuinely adjoin South Africa.

No directly related past PYQ was found.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  Which one of the following countries is completely surrounded by the territory of South Africa?

  • (a)Eswatini
  • (b)Lesotho
  • (c)Botswana
  • (d)Zimbabwe

  Answer(b) Lesotho — one of only three states in the world entirely enclaved within another.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  The Victoria Falls lie on the border between which two countries?

  • (a)Zambia and Zimbabwe
  • (b)Zimbabwe and Botswana
  • (c)Zambia and Malawi
  • (d)Botswana and Namibia

  Answer(a) Zambia and Zimbabwe — on the Zambezi, well north of the South African border.